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Universal Music Files New Brief Against Salt-N-Pepa in Masters Dispute

Universal Music Group continues to oppose Salt-N-Pepa's efforts to gain copyrights for their first four albums, filing a new brief as the case proceeds through appeals court.

Variety Music·May 6, 2026·via Variety Music

Universal Music Files New Brief Against Salt-N-Pepa in Masters Dispute

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May 6, 2026 1:04pm PT

Universal Music Further Refutes Salt-N-Pepa’s Arguments in Appeals Court, as Group Seeks to Have Dismissal of Battle for Masters Overturned

By Andrew Flanagan

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Andrew Flanagan

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Groundbreaking hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa ’s further pursuit of the copyrights to its first four albums continues to receive vigorous pushback from Universal Music Group , with the company filing a new brief as the case winds its way through an appeals court.

Last May, Salt-N-Pepa filed suit against the dominant record company over its rejection of a 2022 copyright notice from the group, who were seeking to reclaim ownership of their enormously successful early albums – “Hot, Cool & Vicious,” “A Salt With a Deadly Pepa,” “Blacks’ Magic” and “Very Necessary.”